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Friends of Lincoln School Park

Join Friends of Lincoln School Park!

Be a part of the Lincoln School Park Renovation!

Final Park Concept Plan Released!

After a robust public process, Parks has released its final conceptual design and are turning it over to the engineering staff. This is a great example of how neighborhood associations, park groups, and the city can work together to involve the public for the common good. Special thanks to Chris and the Friends of Lincoln School Park and adjoining neighbors like the folks at the Lincoln School Condos. You can view the final report and survey at the LSP website: https://www.eugene-or.gov/3744/Lincoln-School-Park-Renovation

Conceptual Design Plans Released

Park Online Survey Results Overview

Dates of survey: 11/7/2017 through 12/9/2017

Number of respondents: 51

Survey results indicated that the most important current uses of the Lincoln School Park are the community gardens, enjoying nature, use of the playground and traveling through the park on the existing north-south path.

Safety was the most common underlying goal for the park to try to limit the illicit use and the overnight camping. There were helpful solutions to make this happen like opening the site lines to the back of the park by eliminating the berms, extending the community gardens into the back SW corner of the park to eliminate a hiding spot, and adding lighting and signage to the park if feasible.

Overall improvements to existing features included an upgrade to the garden fence and extending irrigation to any new plots. Play area renovation was a common suggestion by removing the sand, adding updated play equipment and possibly a sand play area. A walkway around the play area and ADA accessibility were mentioned as positive improvements. It was also suggested that improvement of the turf area and basketball courts will bring in more positive activity. Irrigation installation is a way to green up the turf area to make the park look less abandoned. A small piece of art or some feature to make Lincoln School Park distinctive was also suggested.

First Park Renovation Workshop held October 7, 2017

About 17 people attended from all around the neighborhood, including Ted M. Coopman (Board member of Jefferson Westside and Friends of Monroe Park coordinator) and Emily Semple (City Councilor for Ward One that covers the JWN). Pam Symond from Eugene Parks and Open Space facilitated the meeting with a slide show that covered history, type of parks (ours is a “neighborhood park”). The service area for the park in approximately .5 miles (although a bit irregular).

The planning process will continue through the spring including a survey and another hosted “workshop” in mid-April, 2018. The park renovation will also be discussed at an upcoming JWN general meeting (likely in February or March). Actual construction will probably occur in summer 2019. The budget is pegged at $500,000 and may be supplemented by federal and local grants. While this seems like a lot of money for a small park (Charnel Mulligan cost about $800k, $300K were grants) installing things like irrigation and new play facilities add up fast.

Neighbors brought up concerns and ideas about security, keeping the trees, protect the garden from basketballs, expand the garden, take out the berm, irrigation system for new turf, a sand play area, safety surfacing for the basketball court and engraving/striping for games like hopscotch, as better through-bike access between 13th and 12th. This was an initial information session and no decisions were made.

The City wants the neighbors to participate in an inclusive process, but a final design will come from staff with neighbor input, as opposed to consensus or a majority vote. There are too many factors involving federal, state, and local regulations, budget and maintenance. However, as with Charnel Mulligan, the city staff is highly responsive to neighbors needs and requests.

Help us keep the park safe by reporting any illegal activity (camping, drugs/alcohol use, etc.) or homeless in distress to the Eugene Police Department via the non-emergency # (541) 682-5111 (hit 1-1-1 to skip prompts) [program into your phone]. For homeless in distress, they will call CAHOOTS. If people are being aggressive, threatening, or violent call 911.

Making reports indicates community engagement and creates data that can be used to advocate for resources.

Lincoln School Park is .8 Acre park located on 12 Ave and Madison next to the Lincoln School condominiums and near the Lane County Fairgrounds. It currently has a basketball court, play equipment, sand play area, and a sand volley ball court (bring your own net!).